Terracotta sculptuur van een naakte Venus before 1857

Marcel Gustave Laverdet created this terracotta sculpture of a nude Venus. The sculpture, bathed in muted sepia tones, presents a stark contrast between light and shadow, enhancing the form’s three-dimensionality. The artist skillfully uses the texture of the terracotta to create a sense of depth and realism, while the composition, anchored by the figure’s contrapposto stance, is dynamic. The slight turn of the head and outstretched arm invite you to circumnavigate the sculpture. The work challenges traditional representations of the female nude by presenting Venus with an androgynous figure. This destabilization of gender norms prompts a reconsideration of classical ideals of beauty, power, and representation.